While we're here, we might as well enjoy the "Driver's Ed" scene, featuring a cornucopia of old iron hooning across the desert. Fiat 128! Ford Torino! Grand Wagoneer! Everything! Any of you who haven't seen this Malaise masterpiece in its entirety, we suggest you go out and get a copy right now!

1. Decide What You Need In A Car

You may want a Ferrari Enzo, but if a large part of your day-to-day driving experience involves towing a boat it may not be the best choice. Choosing the car you want is a visceral decision that relies mostly on emotions, but picking the car you need is a logical decision that relies on thoughtful analysis. Make a list of the typical driving tasks this car will need to undertake (this is especially important if this will be your primary vehicle). Here's an example list:

I Will Use This Car For:

• Driving back-and-forth from work (80 miles roundtrip)
• Carpooling with two coworkers
• Weekend Vacations
• Tailgating

In this situation, the driver needs something that can comfortably carry three people, lots of gear and get reasonable gas mileage given the long commute. An ideal vehicle could be a sedan with a large trunk, a station wagon or a small SUV. If the driver wants something sporty or luxurious there are options for each. If mileage is a concern, you can use sites like Fuelly to determine how certain cars perform in your area. If you haven't memorized the features and offerings of every car from every carmaker, the Perfect Car Finder is an option.

2. Know What You Should Pay For This Car

The old saying is that a car depreciates the second you drive it off the lot, but no two cars depreciate in the same way. Factors such as quality perception, availability and the number of cars that end up in the rental fleet all impact the price. Thankfully, there are many companies that evaluate all of the factors and will give you a price for a specific car based on the mileage, features and condition. These include Cars.com, Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, which is the industry standard. But there's a catch.

Mileage, features and make/model are all objective measures that are easy to get and hard to lie about. Condition is an important factor but is a subjective measure. Anyone searching on Craigslist knows that nearly every car seems to be listed in "GOOD CONDITION!" despite occasionally not having a motor. Don't take the seller's word for it.

Conditions range from "Poor" to "Fair" to "Good" to "Excellent." Few cars are truly excellent as that rating means the car has no defects, no visible scratches or dents and has never needed nothing other than regular service. The majority of cars are either "Good" or "Fair" and the price will vary based on that determination. According to KBB a "Good" car means:

the vehicle is free of any major defects. This vehicle has a clean Title History, the paint, body and interior have only minor (if any) blemishes, and there are no major mechanical problems. There should be little or no rust on this vehicle. The tires match and have substantial tread wear left. A “good” vehicle will need some reconditioning to be sold at retail. Most consumer owned vehicles fall into this category.

By comparison, a "Fair" car meets the following description:

“Fair” condition means that the vehicle has some mechanical or cosmetic defects and needs servicing but is still in reasonable running condition. This vehicle has a clean Title History, the paint, body and/or interior need work performed by a professional. The tires may need to be replaced. There may be some repairable rust damage.

Being able to prove the difference to the seller could result in a lower price or, at the very least, help you avoid paying too much. [Source: Autos.MSN.com]

3. Learn About The Car's Seller

One of the best ways to avoid being ripped off is to know more about the person selling the car. You probably wouldn't buy an iPod from someone with a pocket full of them on the subway, so why would you buy something that costs 100 times as much from a random person? The amount of information you can get depends on where you're buying the car from.

If the car is being sold by a major dealer of new and used cars there are numerous resources. Check with friends, google the company and, most importantly, check with the Better Business Bureau. Most large companies will have some complaints, but you can check to see if there are numerous unresolved issues. This is especially important for smaller used car lots along the highway.

If the car is being sold online you've got a few resources. Buyers on eBay have a distinct advantage, as the site tracks "feedback" for buyers. You can search for the seller ID and lookup feedback. Using this feature you can see if they have a high positive feedback rating (over 90% is good), if they have lots of experience selling items (little experience is bad) and will let you see what other people say about them (if it says "They lie about the condition of their cars" beware).

If the car is being sold on an online listing board like Craigslist it is harder to discern if the seller is on the up-and-up, but even here there are a few things to look for. Look out for keyword spammers, people who are unable to use proper English and PEOPLE WHO USE ALL CAPS.

If you're buying the car in person it is hard to know for sure anything about the person unless you ask. This is one of the few cases in your life where it is completely acceptable to discriminate when buying a product. Not buying a sports car from a teenager that looks like he's hooned a car is completely reasonable. If it is a large purchase don't be afraid to ask probing questions about the seller's employment or other details, though try to be tactful about it.

4. Ask The Seller The Right Questions About This Car

Once you've gone through the first three steps and decided this may be a car you want you need to make sure you know all the important details. With the obvious exception of KITT, most cars can't tell you how they've been driven. There are some general questions you want to ask about the driving experience. Basic questions include:

• What kind of commute do you have?
• How fast do you drive?
• What mileage have you typically had with the vehicle?
• Where is the farthest the car has traveled?
• Do you store the car inside, outside on the street?
• Who else drives the car?

5. Make A Detailed, In-Person Inspection Of The Car

If at all possible, you'll want to look at the car in person. It is fairly easy for a used car seller to hide the details of an accident with angled photography and Photoshop. Seeing a car in person and making a thorough inspection can turn up minor issues that you can use to help encourage the seller to lower the price or, if drastic, can help protect you from buying a lemon.

There are numerous lists on the web you can print out and take with you if you're not an experienced used car buyer. This detailed list from MSN Autos covers all of the major details and encourages you to bring a magnet to check for repairs made with Bondo and a flashlight to check unlit sections of the car. If at any point the owner stops you from checking out a portion of the car consider that a big red flag.

If you don't feel comfortable making an investigation yourself then check with your mechanic to see how much they'd charge to look over the car (you shouldn't pay more than $100 for this service).

6. Investigate The Vehicle's History

Someone selling a newer Ford Focus may not have much in the way of historical paperwork, but you'd expect the owner of a classic or even older non-classic car to keep detailed service records detailing the car's history. How many people owned the car before this current owner? Was it ever a rental car? Does it have a clear title? These are all important pieces of the car's history you'll want to know.

The easiest way to get this information is with a CARFAX report, which will often be supplied by the seller. If not, they can be purchased for $25.00 from the CARFAX website. Using only the car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the site will deliver a report that will indicate if the car has ever been in a reported accident, the number of previous owners, title status, history as a private or commercial car, service records and previous odometer reading. This clean sample report shows a 2001 Camry that was once a fleet vehicle with a history of an accident. This junk sample report shows a vehicle with a salvage-junk title, which indicates this car went through a serious accident.

Any car that shows a flood, salvage or junk title should be given special attention (if not completely avoided) and should be sold at a large discount. Be concerned if you find a car that has a mileage lower than the previously reported amount, especially if it is a mechanical odometer.

7. Get Everything In Writing Before Handing Over Money

New car buyers are often offered warranties and have the protection of lemon laws to protect them from being sold a non-functioning vehicle. These protections aren't as common for used car buyers. When purchasing a used car from a dealer they're required by the Federal Trade Commission to give you a Buyers Guide, which must tell you:

• whether the vehicle is being sold "as is" or with a warranty
• what percentage of the repair costs a dealer will pay under the warranty
• The major mechanical and electrical systems on the car, including some of the major problems you should look out for

Private sellers are not covered by the FTC "Used Car Rule" and are not covered under implied warranty laws, so assume that all cars are sold "As Is." If the owner makes any promise when selling over the car, such as offering to replace equipment or fix an item, make sure to get a signed piece of paper stating just that. Anything not stated in a contract will be difficult to enforce. Having all the details of a sale in writing is also a good way to verify that both parties involved in the sale have agreed to the terms of the sale. [Source: Federal Trade Commission]

Conclusion

A used car is a great way to get a car you'd otherwise not be able to afford and to save money. There are risks when buying a previously owned car but it doesn't have to be a crap shoot. With used cars there isn't a guarantee that a vehicle purchase will be without problems, but those who take the time to do their homework can increase their chances of getting a good deal. If you have a tip for buying a used car include it in the comments below.

[Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images]

I saw this a week or two back at a Worcester MA car dealership and thought it might be right up your alley.

It is an near-perfect all-original (less CD player) 1981 Cadillac Cimarron with 10,500(!) original miles. It may be most perfectly preserved example of the worst Cadillac ever. They were asking $8,995 for it.

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And remember, folks, including the URLs of particularly annoying Craigslist Price Liar listings in your comments is a surefire way to have them flagged into oblivion by like-minded Craigslist vigilantes… and those of you who want to go the extra mile can simply do a search in your local CL Cars For Sale category for all $1 ads and flag 'em all!

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Although Toyota spokespeople claim they're "going to have to make large provisions," they don't appear ready to comment on how much those charges might be as the automaker plans to report its fiscal first-quarter results for the period ended June 30 on Thursday.

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: Of Toyota's total vehicles sold in the U.S., about 16% were sold on lease compared to approximately 20% for the Detroit automakers. Still, that's enough of a liability to cause even the great and mighty Toyota to feel some pain on used car returns off leases. At a time of $4-per-gallon gas, those Tundra truck and big Highlander SUV buyers aren't going to want to be buying those cars back at the end of their lease term wethinks. [via WSJ (sub. req.)]

10. 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 Diesel
Who says you can't ride in a luxury sedan and still look out for the environment? Though we loved our Mercedes 300D, we have to say that the 1985 Mercedes Benz 190 is a classy way to roll. With 26/35 mpg and a combined 30 mpg, others will be green with envy at your green ride — but only in the diesel version. If you find an "E" you've gone one letter too far. Last we checked — we found a mustard cream Mercedes 190D that sold for just over $3,000.

FUEL ECONOMY: 26 MPG City / 35 MPG Highway / 30 MPG Combined
RECENT LISTING: $3,060 - EBay Motors
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $600
WHERE TO BUY: Craigslist, Kansas City

9. 1987 Honda Civic CRX HF
What we have here is the extra special Honda CRX HF which gets 42/51 MPG with a combined fuel economy rating of 46 MPG. Not too shabby — and Murilee's even seen a 1986 model-year CRX HF in great condition down on the Alameda Street. It also looks awesome with that two-tone paint. Sure it only has 58 HP, but when you sip fuel like this you can enjoy the ride.

FUEL ECONOMY: 42 MPG City / 51 MPG Highway / 46 MPG Combined
RECENT LISTING: $650 - Craigslist
CURRENT SALE / AUCTION PRICE: $1,025
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Utah

8. Solectria Force Electric Car
Assuming you aren't in the mood for spending money on fuel, you could always go the electric route. Numerous electric cars have been made over the years, and the Solectria Force is one of the better deals. Based on the Geo Metro, the little car has a top speed of 68 mph and a range of about 40 miles, but you can't beat the unlimited mileage. There is a Force for sale at the low, low price of somewhere above $3,500.

FUEL ECONOMY: Unlimited
RECENT LISTING: $9,600 (reserve not met) - eBay
CURRENT SALE / AUCTION PRICE: $3,550 (reserve not met)
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Boston

7. 1994 Geo Metro XFi
All of a sudden it's cool to drive a Geo. But it can't be just any Geo; it has to be the Metro XFi, which is considered to be one of the best fuel-sippers on the road today. That alone should make it deserving of mention, but it loses "cool points" because every outlet from the New York Times to NBC has profiled the skyrocketing used prices of the little econoboxes. Check out this 1994 XFi in fairly good condition. Sure it's got 180,000 miles and they upgraded to the "13-inch" rims, but when gas hits $5 a gallon you'll be hotter than a Hummer rolling on 22's thanks to 43/51 mpg with a combined 46 mpg.

FUEL ECONOMY: 43 MPG City / 51 MPG Highway / 46 MPG Combined
RECENT LISTING: $840 - Craigslist
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $2,850
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Charlotte

6. 1983 Ford Ranger XLT Diesel
Many have forgotten that Mazda supplied diesel engines to Ford during the early 1980's, resulting in some rare novelty cars. One of our favorite examples is the Diesel Ranger pickup. Who says that trucks have to be gas guzzlers or that diesel pickups have to be heavy-duty? In 2WD form with the manual transmission, the 83 Diesel ranger will get 33/41 mpg. Despite the higher mileage, this Ranger XLT Diesel looks great and, for less than $4,000, you can buy it now and have your very own oil-burning Ranger.

FUEL ECONOMY: 33 MPG City / 41 MPG Highway
RECENT LISTING: $4,900 - Craigslist
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $4,000
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Huntington, NY

5. 2004 VW Jetta TDI Station Wagon
Not every used car that gets great fuel economy is a small beater hatch. One car that acheives great mileage and has lots of usable space is the beautiful and powerful Jetta TDI Station Wagon. With the manual transmission, you can achieve 34/42 mpg with a 35 mpg combined. This TDI wagon has just about every option and is only up to $16,000. That's a little steeper than most, but you get German quality and wagon storage for that price.

FUEL ECONOMY: 34 MPG City / 42 MPG Highway / 35 MPG Combined
RECENT LISTING: $15,900 - Craigslist
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $16,100
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Bristol, VA

4. 1990 Ford Festiva Sport
We had a friend who treated his Ford Festiva with an almost creepy level of care, packing it to the gills with junk for the trip home from college every summer. Though not the most fuel efficient vehicle in history, the sharp little hatch gets 30/37 mpg with 33 mpg combined (though most report closer to 40 mpg combined). And who could pass up this hot Festiva Sport? Check out those rims and bucket seats. Who needs a Porsche?

FUEL ECONOMY: 30 MPG City / 37 MPG Highway / 33 MPG Combined
RECENT LISTING: $1,000 - Craigslist
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $1,275 (reserve not met)
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Asheville, NC

3. 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid
People have claimed some pretty amazing mileage with the Honda Insight, the first mass-marketed hybrid available in the US. Sure, there isn't much room, but some owners report up to 83 mpg on the highway (when going downhill, slowly, behind a truck we'd imagine). Officially, the car achieves a still-outrageous 48/60 mpg with a 53 mpg combined rating. With the 11-gallon gas tank, you're talking about taking trips of nearly 600 miles without filling up. If you're near Paradise, TX, you should considering bidding on this Honda Insight, which looks sharp in red. While we consider the $12,000+ price to be a bit steep, with estimated annual fuel costs of $1,145 how can you say no to that dopey smile?

FUEL ECONOMY: 48 MPG City / 60 MPG Highway / 53 MPG Combined
RECENT LISTING: $16,000 - HybridCars.com
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $12,600
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Paradise, TX

2. 1987 Toyota MR2
The mid-engined, RWD Toyota MR2 proves that you don't have to be a front-engined FWD car to sip fuel. Though the 23/29 mpg mileage isn't the best on the list, it's probably the sportiest looking vehicle in our lineup. This particular Mr. 2 would do great against the CRX and, with its adjustable shocks, would be a fun weekend racer for the endurance-minded driver. Just $3,200.

FUEL ECONOMY: 23 MPG City / 29 MPG Highway
RECENT LISTING: $1,800 - Craigslist
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $3,200
WHERE TO BUY: Craigslist, Central NJ

1. 1981 VW Rabbit Pickup
What would a Jalopnik list be without an El Camino? This time we've got a diesel VW Rabbit pickup with the four-speed manual transmission. In this trim, the hot little truck achieved around 40/54 when new and, assuming good care is taken with it, could continue to put out great numbers. Bidding stands at $2,550, meaning that someone can live the diesel dream and the El Camino dream simultaneously.

FUEL ECONOMY: 40 MPG City / 54 MPG Highway
RECENT LISTING: $2,500 - Craigslist
CURRENT SALE PRICE: $2,800
WHERE TO BUY: eBay, Lebanon, TN

Here's the full size image: Michigan Auto & RV, page 58, week of May 7-13

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[Junkard Finds]

Image credit Murilee Martin

The car was located in Fremont, which is about 30 miles from the Island That Time Forgot, and I wanted to hit the Pick Your Part in nearby Milpitas anyway, so I agreed to go over and take a look at the Corvette BobAsh (and a shadowy consortium of Czech Trilateral Commission operatives) had picked out on Craiglist. Once I'd placed my patented Malaisemobile Seal of Approval™ on the car, Lieberman was to lurch leap into action, picking up the cash wired by the Czechs' Nigerian bagmen and blowing every dime on poker and 7-diamond prostitutes catching the next plane up from SoCal.

The first thing I noticed about the car (after spotting the '88 and '73 Vettes parked nearby) was the amazingly Malaise blue metalflake paint job, like something from Foghat's drum set, circa 1978. The owner was pleasant enough and definitely knew his Corvettes, but I knew I had to be thorough or spend the rest of my days looking over my shoulder for a hit squad straight outta Prague. The car had sat for 10 years prior to the current owner getting it in running condition, which meant all manner of strange problems could show themselves. So I took photos of all the flaws I could find (the photos in these galleries are the very ones I sent to BobAsh) and checked all the stuff I knew (from bitter experience) that GM tended to screw up in the Late Malaise period. Leaky T-tops? Check (though there's not much point in checking those, given that GM T-tops would find a way to leak water if you parked the car on the face of the Moon). Funky electrical system? Oh yes; no heater/AC function whatsoever, no turn signals, flaky headlights. Bubbling paint? Check. But it started, drove, turned, and stopped, the interior was pretty decent for the price, and- aside from the paint job- it was pretty much original. Yes, even the dreaded Computer Q-Jet was still there and in working order. I wrote up my report and sent it off, breathing a sigh of relief as the responsibility passed from my shoulders to those of Lieberman.

This is your question: What 1998 American cars would you send to foreign countries and what would you ask for in return? Try to make it reasonable as we can't imagine you could unload a bunch of 1998 Contour GL's for a 1998 Nissan GT-R.

Houston area dealers with 1998 vehicles, especially trucks, have seen a sudden windfall from the regulatory change. One dealer claims that the prices of such vehicles have increased by more than 10%. I guess I could have gotten a bit more for my old 1998 Taurus. [Houston Chronicle]

All 50 states have lemon laws mandating that the manufacturer buy back a new car after some threshold of problems is reached during a certain time period; at that point, the title of such a car is supposed to be slugged "LEMON," much like salvage-title cars. However, unscrupulous slimeballs enterprising car sellers have found that an out-of-state move removes the scarlet L from the record; a recent study by Experian Automotive indicates that 80% of cars branded as lemons no longer maintain any sign of that status once moved out of state. [New York Times]

Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers can use new vehicles as loaners for test-drives or for customers who need a car while theirs is in service....

...In the past, dealers have had to use a vehicle as a loaner for three months before selling it as used. Slicing that requirement to one day allowed Chrysler to count the vehicles as retail sales while dealers were able to move the outdated cars and trucks out of their new car lots, where they might dampen interest in newer models.

Chrysler puts '06 vehicles in used lots [Detroit News]

Related:
Chrysler Group's Marketing Man Makes You Wonder: "Hey Joe, Is It Time To Go?"; Autoexremist, er, Autoexcremist, er Autoextremist: Hey, Ho, Eberhardt Must Go!; The Post Whereby We Welcome The Detroit News To The "Time To Go, Joe" Bandwagon; Chrysler Wields The Heavy Hand Of The DMCA, Hits Self; Chrylser, Chrysler, Pants On Fire!; Joltin' Joe Eberhardt Jumps Ship: Chrysler Marketing Man Moved To Mercedes; That's What Friends Are For: A Jalopnik Farewell To Ex-Chrysler Marketing Man Joe Eberhardt;

The great orator Elbert Green Hubbard once said, "Never explain. Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway." And that's probably the best advice anyone could give this dollar-sign-happy seeker of the ugliest car ever built. It just goes to show, as Hubbard also said, "Life is just one damned thing after another." [Thanks to joemamma for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli

Wanted $$$$ Pontiac Aztec $$$$ [Craigslist]

Related:
All This and More! A Very Special Craigslist Camaro [internal]

XM and General Motors Launch Satellite Radio Program for GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles

XM , the nation's leading satellite radio service, and General Motors Corp. today launched a satellite radio trial program for GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, now making the XM trial program available to buyers of both new and certified used models. XM will be available in more than 115,000 of these certified GM vehicles in 2007, and grow to more than 168,000 vehicles in 2008.

Under this program, all GM Certified Used Vehicles (Chevrolet,
Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Oldsmobile models), Cadillac and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles equipped with XM Radio will be available with three trial months of XM service and a waived activation fee. A list of previous model year Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and HUMMER vehicles factory-equipped with XM can be found online at http://www.xmradio.com/whatisxm/inyourvehicle/used-vehicles.xmc.

GM is the nation's largest automaker and the industry leader in manufacturer-certified used vehicle sales, representing nearly one-third of the volume of all certified used vehicles sold in the U.S. GM Certified Used Vehicles has been the top-selling certified used vehicle brand each of the last five years, according to Autodata Corp.

"GM is XM's largest automotive partner and XM looks forward to providing premier entertainment to this important and growing segment of pre-owned vehicle customers," said Marisa Uchin, director of remarketing and automotive strategy, XM. "Now customers who purchase a certified GM used vehicle from Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Oldsmobile, Cadillac or HUMMER have the opportunity to conveniently experience XM's 170-plus channels of music, talk, sports and entertainment, adding to the exceptional driving experience customers come to expect when purchasing a certified used vehicle."

"Over the last five years, XM has been featured in millions of GM vehicles," said Paul Pejza, manager, GM Certified Used Vehicles. "It is only natural that we launch this program to provide GM Certified Used Vehicles customers an even more compelling value."

GM Certified Used Vehicles, the number-one selling manufacturer-certified brand, are high-quality, reconditioned vehicles, available at participating Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac and GMC dealers. All models are six years old or newer, have 60,000 miles or less, are reconditioned to stringent GM Certified Used Vehicles standards and must undergo a rigorous 117-point inspection and reconditioning process. All GM Certified Used Vehicles are supported by a fully transferable 5-year, 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty with no deductible*, three-month/3,000-mile comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty, a three-day/150-mile customer satisfaction guarantee, and 24-hour roadside assistance during the term of the warranty. For more information about GM Certified Used Vehicles, visit http://www.gmcertified.com/.

Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles come with a 6-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty; and Hummer Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles come with a bumper to bumper 6-year/100,000 mile warranty. For a previously owned HUMMER to become a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle it is tested to meet HUMMER's stringent standards and undergoes a rigorous 100+ point inspection. In addition, vehicles must be less than 48 months old, driven fewer than 50,000 miles with no serious accidents or body repairs.

About XM

XM is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 8 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2007 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota, is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com/.

About General Motors Corp.

General Motors Corp. , the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at http://www.gm.com/.

* Whichever comes first, from original in-service date.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio's service, the Company's dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-3-06. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.

Let's suppose you're a grunt manning a checkpoint in Iraq, where you and your buddies are fully equipped with video camera and low-end video-editing software. Let's further suppose you've stopped a tractor-trailer loaded with scrap cars. You'd definitely win the Hoon of the Century award if you commandeered the truck and went for a fully-loaded top-speed jump over the nearest ramp-like feature in the landscape, but then you'd probably end up with a bunch of officers screaming at you at nose-to-nose range until your face is completely covered with acrid blobs of officer spit (followed by some sort of duty involving feces for, like, eternity). So you make the best of the situation and do the next best thing: it's Crazie Bob's Auto Show! We totally think Crazie Bob needs to join forces with Cal Worthington when he gets back to the States. – Murilee Martin

Related:
Go See Cal, Go See Cal, Go See Cal! [internal]

Anyone who's spent any time in Southern California since 1950 knows exactly who Cal Worthington is; the TV ads for his dealerships make all other fast-talking cornball car salemen look like small-timers, and they've been an integral part of SoCal's cultural fabric since Richard Nixon was a freshman congressman. There's Cal's goofy "My Dog Spot" theme (Spot is never a dog) and, of course, the song:
If you want a car or truck, go see Cal
If you want to save a buck, go see Cal
If your tailpipe is a-draggin' and your wife she's a-naggin'
Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal!
Like whores and old buildings, old car salesmen gain respectability over time; thus, the New York Times has put together a nice piece about Cal and his empire. When you're done reading that, be sure to check out Cal's collection of archived ads at his site.
– Murilee Martin

He Changed His Spots, but Cal's Still the Car-Sales King [New York Times]

Related:
Darling Harlan Wants To Put You In This Citation Today! [internal]

News flash! Not all car sellers are being 100% forthcoming about the history of cars damaged by the Katrina and other storms over the last couple years when they're showing those fine automobiles to prospective customers. Carfax says it's a 27-alarm emergency, with a half-million cars damaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, and everyone should buy their reports right freakin' now; only problem is that such reports don't always indicate, say, a car that sat beneath 15 feet of Lake Pontchartrain water. All your suspicions about flood-damaged cars getting their histories washed clean via out-of-state retitling and dumped back on the market as sure-fire lemons with fritzy electrical systems will now be confirmed by this article. – Murilee Martin

The Hurricanes Are Gone, but the Cars May Remain [New York Times]

Related:
Waterlogged Cars Big in 'Bama [internal]

From our not-friends over at the gross soda/chocolate milk news site comes a story that frankly, shocked me as a Detroiter. Houses are going to auction at unheard of rates so low that it's cheaper(d'oh) more costly to buy a used car. Probably a better investment too considering the taxes are lower on a rusting heap than a rotting one. I mean, I knew it was bad, but $7000 around Motown? That's not even that bad of an area. The real three-fingered surprise comes when realtor Ron Walraven (has to be a fake name) confides that a house in the bougie suburb of Bloomfield Hills listing for $525k was bought at auction for $130k. Okay then folks, last one out of Michigan please turn out the lights when you leave. – Ben Wojdyla

Houses cheaper than cars in Detroit [Yahoo! News]

Related:
It's a Depreciation Party![internal]

While not quite the quad-flat Merc Limo of 'Gundo, this Cadillac's been sitting on 22nd Street right next to the sidewalk for the last couple of weeks or so. Sure, it's missing a couple of wheels, but since it's for sale, this display tactic allows potential buyers to check out the brakes. Nearby sits a primered El Camino with a flat, which we will show you sooner than rather. Ah, the GM cars of San Pedro by the Bay. It really, really is a whale of a town. – Davey G. Johnson

Related:
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Parts: Using a Floor Jack and Jack Stands; 2 Legit 2 Quit: Mercedes 300D Limo [Internal]

Eunice resident finds marijuana inside used car [NewMexican.com]

Related:
Don't Put Your Weed in There: Flagstaff Cops Make Automotive Dank Busts [internal]

Find used cars with Google [Lifehacker]

Related:
How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gas Cap Arrow [internal]

Somehow, we can picture the following exchange.
Schwarzenegger: I want to return this Toyota Tundra. It's giving me a headache.
Used Car Salesman: Maybe it just needs a tune-up.
Schwarzenegger: It's not a tune-up!
Jalopnik your only source for bad Kindergarten Cop puns.

California gives buyers 2 days to return used cars [Reuters]

Related:
Hasta la Vista, Saudi: Arnold Gets a Hydro-Hummer [Internal]